BURY have signed former Bolton Wanderers midfielder Neil Danns.

The 33-year-old has agreed a two-year deal after impressing during pre-season training.

Manager David Flitcroft confirmed his interest following Saturday's 1-0 defeat by Blackburn Rovers during a day-long tournament at Morecambe, when Danns played his first match for the Gigg Lane outfit.

The Shakers boss said the ex-Birmingham, Crystal Palace and Leicester player got in touch asking for a trial after he was released by Wanderers in the summer.

He went on to join the squad on a training camp in Portugal.

"Danns came with us to Portugal,” Flitcroft said, before the signing was confirmed. “He gave me a call and did a week with us. He has been training well. It has been great to asses his fitness and everyone knows the quality that he has got."

The Bury boss refused to commit to the signing earlier in the week, saying he needed more time to assess his options as he bid to rebalance the squad.

The League One outfit have a plethora of talent to call upon in the centre of midfield, with the likes of Tom Soares, Jacob Mellis, Kelvin Etuhu and Andrew Tutte all battling it out for a starting position.

However, only Etuhu plays the holding midfield role that Danns was employed in towards the end of his three-year stay at the Macron.

Danns made more than 90 appearances for the Whites after signing from Leicester City on loan in September, 2013.

He began his career as a trainee at Blackburn Rovers, going on to have loan spells with Blackpool, Hartlepool United and Colchester United.

The midfielder penned a permanent deal with Colchester in 2004 and played a big part in their promotion to the Championship in 2006, which resulted in a £500,000 move to Birmingham City. The move paid off, with Danns became a regular in the team that won promotion to the Premier League that season.

In January, 2008 he signed a three-and-a-half-year deal with Championship side Crystal Palace, before moving to Leicester City ion a free transfer in June, 2011.